Coin operated switch



Get. 27, 1942.

C. J. HOLINGER COIN OPERATEfi SWITCH Filed Aug. 3, i940 INVENTOR :1 W

' I 7: ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 27, 1942 2,299,820 com OPERATED ,swrroH Carl J. Holinger, Plainfield, N. J. Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,172 a Claims. (01. 194-9) i This invention relates to coin operated control mechanism and particularly to improved mecha nism for closing an electric circuit when a coin is deposited in the mechanism, and for thereafter opening the circuit and restoring the mechanism 1 to condition for a further coin initiated operation. In many coin operated machines for vending articles, dispensing beverages, playing records or for other purposes, it is necessary to provide mechanism which will be started when a coin is deposited therein and which will thereafter operate for an interval to perform a succession of functions. Electrically operated means such as a motor is usually employed to perform or govern the required successive functions, and it is neces-' sary to provide means for closing a circuit to energize suchmotor upon the introduction of a coin,

member 4 normally biased to a position shown in Figure 2 in which the circuit to the switch is closed, and movable against such bias to a position in which the switch is opened, as shown in full lines in Figure 1. Since switches of this nature are Well known, no description of the contact mechanism thereof is given. The switch operating lever A may comprise an outwardly sprung leaf or arm fixed at one end to the switch casing and engaging a button 5 extending from the switch casing. Spring movement of the lever 4 outwardly permits the button 5 to move outwardly'of the switch casing and thereby close the switch circuit. The circuit is re-opened when the lever 4 is depressed toward the switch against its spring action so as to depress the button 5.

The switch 3 is fixed to a suitable base or supto thereafter maintain such circuit closed while the functions are being performed and finally to open such circuitwhen the cycle of operations is completed. Switches directly operated by the action of a falling coin areobviously not suited to performing these operations.

t is the object of the present invention to pro i vide an improved coin controlled mechanism for closing a switch for an interval and thereafter opening such switch and restoring the mechanism to a condition for further coin initiated operation after the operating interval is complete.

nism of the typedescribed in which a deposited coin releases a latch and so permits a switch to close, and in which closure of the switch operates More specifically, it is proposed to provide a mechamechanism that successively re-engages the latch this embodiment, reference will be made to the Y accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a simplified and diagrammatic elevation of switch operating mechanism embodying the invention disposed in a position in which the switch is open; and

Figure 2 is an elevation of the mechanism shown in Figural but disposed in a position in which the switch is closed. 1 r Referring to the. drawing, the embodiment of the invention there illustrated includes an electric switch 3 having a movable operating lever 01'.

port, not shown.

An operating arm 6 extends substantially vertically adjacent the switch 3 and is connected to a fixed support by a pivot l. The arm 6 is mov able about its pivot in substantially the direction of movement of the switch operating lever 4.

A coin operated latch mechanism or tripper '1" is provided for releasably connected the arm 6 to the switch lever 4. In the disclosed embodiment, this tripper comprises a horizontally extending part 8 connected to the arm 5 by a horizontally disposed pivot 9, and provided with a coin receiving platform 19 at one end thereof. A Weight I I is secured to the part 8 on the opposite side of the pivot 9 from the coin platform l0, and this weight and the other parts of the tripper T are so proportioned and arranged that the tripper normally assumes the horizontal position shown in Figure 2, and returns to such position after movement about the pivot 9, as hereinafter explained. The balance of the tripper is such that it is swung clockwise about its pivot 9 when the platform I0 is struck by a coin I2. A coin chute H1 is disposed above the platform l0 and delivers a deposited coin thereto from a coin receiving slot or classifier, not shown.

The tripper T is provided with a latch surface M adjacent the coin platform in, and in the disclosed embodiment, this latch surface comprises a substantially vertical extension of the coin platformat its inner end. The latch surface 14 is so disposed as to engage the outer surface of the switch operating lever 4 adjacent its lower end when the tripper T is in its horizontal balanced positionandthe arm 8 is moved toward its switch opening position as shown in Figure l.

The coin operated switch mechanism is preferably employed in connection with a machine in which several functions are performed or controlled in sequence by an electrical device such as the motor [5. The motor [5 is energized from a suitable source E through a circuit l6 including the switch 3. It will be understood that this motor is connected to drive a cam mechanism, a circuit controller or other means for performing or governing the functions comprising an operating cycle of the machine. The mechanism driven by the motor l5 includes a shaft I! which turns through one complete revolution during each such cycle of operation. The shaft I! may be driven through any suitable means such as the motor shaft pinion l8 meshing with the gear 19.

Means are provided for successively moving the arm 6 to two extreme positions during each cycle of operation of the motor I5. In the illustrated embodiment, this means comprises a bar 20 pivotally connected by a pin 2| to an eccentric point on the gear [9 and extending transversely of the arm 6. The depending tang 22 on the end of the bar 28 is disposed between and in the path of two horizontally spaced lugs 23 and 2a on the arm 6. Any suitable means such as a radius rod 25, pivotally connected between the bar 29 and a fixed support, may be provided for guiding the tang carrying end of the bar 20 in a substantially horizontal path. With this arrangement, the tang 22 engages the lugs 23 and 26 as the bar 2i] moves in opposite directions to its extreme positions as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

At the start of each cycle of operation, the various parts are in the positions shown in full lines in Figure 1. The arm 6 is held in its extreme left hand position by engagement of the tang 22 with the lug 23. The switch 3 is held open by the arm 6 connected to the switch lever 4 by engagement of the tripper latch surface M with the switch lever A as shown. When a coin E2 is dropped through the chute l3, it strikes the tripper platform l6 and tilts the tripper T about its pivot 9 to the position shown in broken lines in Figure 1. This tilting of the tripper moves the latch surface hi out of the path of the switch lever A, and this lever accordingly moves outward to the broken line position shown in Figure 1, permitting the switch 3 to close. The end of the lever 4 engages the coin platform to and so holds the tripper T in its tilted position. The coin i2 drops from the tilted platform Hi to a suitable receptacle not shown.

Closure of the switch 3 energizes the motor 15 and turns the gear. I9. The tang 22 on the bar 28 moves to the right, away from the lug 23, but the arm 6 at first remains stationary. When the gear is has nearly completed a half revolution, the tang 22 engages the lug 24 and the arm 6 moved to the right to the position shown in Figure 2. This movement carries the coin platform it out from under the end of the switch lever 4, and the tripper swings back to its balanced horizontal position with the latch surface M in a position to re-engage the switch lever 4. The gear 19 continues to turn, and as it approaches its initial position, the tang 22 on the bar 20 engages the lug 23 and moves the arm 6 to the left to the position shown in Figure 1. This moves the tripper latch surface M to the left and so moves the switch lever against its bias to the position shown in Figure 1 in which the switch 3 opens the circuit [6 through the motor E5. The motor is thus stopped after completing one cycle of operation represented by a single rotation of the gear l9 and all parts are restored to their initial positions. ready for further operation when another coin is deposited.

It will be understood that the invention is not confined to the particular details of the embodiment thereof herein described, but includes all such modifications thereof as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Coin controlled switching mechanism comprising an electric motor, an electric switch controlling the power supplying circuit of said motor, said switch having a casing, a movable switch operating member fixedly mounted at one end to said casing and biased toward a switch closed position, an arm movably mounted adjacent said switch, a latch mechanism on said arm engageable with said switch operating member and releasable from said member by a dropping coin to permit movement of said operating member to a switch closing position and means driven by said motor upon closure of said switch for moving said arm first to a position in which said latch mechanism ire-engages said switch operating member and then to a position in which said switch operating member is moved to its switch opening position.

2. Coin operated switching mechanism comprising an electric switch, an operating lever for said switch movable substantially horizontally in opposite directions to switch opening and switch closing positions and biased to move to its switch closing position, a pivotally supported latch beneath said lever movable upwardly into engagement with said lever to hold the same against biased movement, means for biasing said latch toward its upper lever engaging position, means operated by a falling coin for moving said latch downwardly out of engagement with said lever whereby said lever is released and said switch is closed, said lever maintaining said latch in its downward position when said lever is so released, and means for moving said latch substantially horizontally toward the biased position of said lever whereby said latch may be re-engaged with said lever after biased movement of said lever.

3. Coin operated switching mechanism comprising an electric switch, an operating lever for said switch movable substantially horizontally in opposite directions to. switch opening and switch closing positions and biased to move to its switch closing position, a pivotally supported latch beneath said lever movable upwardly into engagement with said lever to hold the same against biased movement, means for biasing said latch toward its upward lever engaging position, means operated by a dropping coin for moving said latch downwardly out of engagement with said lever whereby said lever is released and said switch moves to its biased closed position, said lever maintaining said latch in its downward position when said lever is so released, and means for successively moving said latch substantially horizontally toward the biased position of said lever whereby said latch may move upwardly and re-engage said lever and returning said latch to its lever holding position.

4. Coin operated switching mechanism comprising an electric switch, an operating lever for said switch movable substantially horizontally in opposite directions to switch opening and switch closing positions and biased to move to its switch closing position, a pivotally supported latch beneath said lever movable upwardly into engagement with said lever to hold the same against biased movement, means for biasing said latch toward. its upward lever engaging position, means for directing a dropped coin to fall onto said latch whereby said latch is moved downwardly out of engagement with said lever and said lever moves to said biased switch closing position, said lever maintaining said latch in its downward postion when said lever is so released and means energized by closure of said switch for moving said latch substantially horizontally in the direction of biased movement of said lever to a point where said lever no longer maintains said latch in its downward position and said latch moves upwardly and re-engages said lever and for thereafter moving said latch in the opposite direction substantially horizontally whereby said lever is moved against its bias to its switch opening po sition.

5. Coin operated switching mechanism comprising an electric switch, an operating lever for said switch movable substantially horizontally in opposite directions to switch opening and switch closing positions, said lever being biased toward its switch closing position, a tripper extending substantially horizontally beneath the path of movement of said lever, a pivot supporting said tripper for movement substantially vertically relative to said lever, a substantially vertical latch surface on said tripper spaced from said pivot and movable upwardly into a position to engage said switch operating lever when said tripper moves upwardly about its pivot, means for balancing said tripper to normally move about its pivot to its latch engaging position, means for directing a dropped coin into contact with said tripper to move said tripper downwardly and thereby move said latch surface out of the path of said switch operating lever whereby said lever is permitted to move to its switch closing position and means for moving said pivot substantially horizontally in opposite directions substantially parallel to the path of movement of said lever whereby said tripper is moved vertically with respect to said lever and saidlatch surface reengages said lever and returns it to its switch opening position. i

6. Coin operated switching mechanism comprising an electric switch, an operating lever for said switch movable substantially horizontally in opposite directions to switch opening and switch closing positions, said lever being biased toward its switch closing position, a tripper extending I substantially horizontally beneath the path of movement of said lever, a pivot supporting said tripper for movement substantially vertically relative to said lever, a substantially vertical latch surface on said tripper spaced from said pivot and movable upwardly into a position to engage said switch operating lever when said tripper moves upwardly about its pivot, means for balancing said tripper to normally move about its pivot to its latch engaging position, means for directing a dropped coin into contact with said tripper to move said tripper downwardly and thereby move said latch surface out of the path of said switch operating lever whereby said lever is permitted to move to its biased switch closing position, said lever maintaining said tripper in such downward position after such biased movement of said lever and means energized by closure of said switch for moving said pivot substantially horizontally in the direction of biased movement of said lever until said tripper moves said latch upwardly into the path of said lever and for thereafter moving said pivot substan tially horizontally in the opposite direction whereby said lever is moved against its bias to its switch opening position.

'7. Coin-operated mechanism of the character described comprising, in combination, an electric.

motor, a switch connected to open and close the power supply circuit of said motor, an operating lever for said switch biased to move to switch closed position, an arm movable toward and from the switch operating lever, a latch pivoted to said arm biased to move to position to engage said switch operating lever, means for directing a dropped coin to fall onto said latch to move said latch downward to release said switch operating lever and permit closing of the switch, and mechanism driven by said motor and connected to said arm to move the arm and the latch to one position in which the pivoted latch moves upward, as biased, to position to lie in the path of said switch operating lever and to move the arm and latch after a predetermined interval to another position to move the switch operating lever to switch opening position. i

8. Coin controlled switching mechanism comprising, in combinatioman electric switch having a casing, a movable operating lever fixedly mounted at one end of said casing and biased to a position which permits closing of the switch, a tripper pivotally supported for movement in a vertical plane adjacent said lever and biased to assume a horizontal position, a latch surface on said tripper engageable with said lever for holding said lever in a switch opening position and means for directing a dropped coin into contact with said tripper adjacent said latch surface, whereby said tripper is moved in a vertical plane about its pivot to release said latch surface from said switch operating lever and whereby said switch is permitted'to close, and means to move said tripper substantially horizontally in one direction to free it from said lever and to permit it to move to horizontal position and subsequently to move said tripper in the opposite direction to engage the movable operating lever and to open said switch.

CARL J. HOLINGER. 

